title: Recombinant interleukin-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells in renal cancer patients: I. Phenotypic and functional analysis of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: The efficacy of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) or rIL-2 plus lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in cancer therapy has been demonstrated by several groups both in experimental models in animals and clinical trials in humans, but their effects in vivo have yet to be clarified. Starting February 1988, we have treated 12 patients affected by advanced renal cancer with rIL-2 + LAK cells according to an open, non-randomized, phase II trial. Immediately before each rIL-2 infusion and during the last day of infusion, immunological tests were performed on the patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells. During rIL-2 infusion we have observed a slight increase of the spontaneous cell proliferation and of natural killer (NK) and LAK activity; phenotypic analysis showed a significant decrease in the CD4+ T-lymphocyte subset, both in percentage and in absolute number. Conversely, before each cycle CD4+ cells increased when compared to basal values. No significant variations were observed in the CD8+ T-lymphocyte subset. Furthermore, a significant increase of the NK cells (CD3- CD56+ CD16+) was evident during rIL-2 infusion.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Immunoterapia Adottiva, Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fortis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Besana
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heltai
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schoenheit
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rugarli
mesh_terms: D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins